For much of Thursday's final, it seemed Canada would refuse to relinquish the throne of Olympic women's ice hockey to this younger American squad. But the U.S. found the grit to topple them, 2-1.

The typically stoic Stolz — who won gold in the 1,000-meter race and the 500m — seemed to wrestle with his feelings as China’s national anthem blared at Milano Speed Skating Arena after the 1500m, the Stars and Stripes flag hanging lower than he had ever seen from this vantage.